Quick Blast of Perspective on a Friday

It is exciting to learn¹ Anthony Gose is coming to spring training with the big club, just as it is exciting that Darin Mastroianni is on the 40 man roster. News that the Jays minor league system is on the rise is super duper exciting.

The man in the video above attests to baseball's steadfast refusal to abide your hopes and dreams. Five tool studs stall in their ascent; they break down and get wacky diseases. A shame? Of course. But it happens. When it does, one can only hope everyone involved maintains the same level of class and well-adjusted humility Rocco himself displayed to the St Pete Times.

"But I don't live angrily; I live kind of happy. Why would I look at the negative aspects of everything that I've been through and live the rest of my life talking about those things that aren't the important things to me? The important things to me were all the wonderful things I got to do."

Tough to argue. For some reason I thought of Vernon Wells when I read this quote. The humility and genuine sadness Wells conveyed in press conferences & media calls contrasts starkly with the general view of his exit from Toronto.

We increasingly view players as assets, which isn't a bad thing in and of itself. It does get sticky from time to time when the lines cross and real life sticks its nose into our make believe General Managing.

Like Anthopoulos' quotes on guaranteeing John Buck playing time, it is hard to grasp for those of us so fixated on the ultimate goal. Sometimes we all need to check ourselves and remember it is far from a straight line to reach that destination.

¹ - late pass.

Rocco Baldelli: Future Executive, Blue Jays Fan, Renaissance Man, Hero

In my wildest dreams you could add "Ghostrunner on First reader" to that list of Roccomplishments. There is a very low (but non-zero!) chance he reads this site, yet his comments on Twitter this morning dove tail nicely into my patience post from yesterday.

Rocco is, by all accounts, a very bright guy whose playing career might be over. Spending the bulk of his career in Tampa obviously gives him an up-close and personal appreciation for the Two Monoliths.

The Rays and Jays are becoming more and more similar each day while remaining diametrically opposed in others¹. I have a all kinds of respect for the Rays — despite being an alleged hater — and feel pretty good about the Jays following their tack.

But this isn't about the Rays as a whole. It is about Rocco, who clearly gets my cards and letters. Colour me impressed.

¹ - Michael Grange made a great point on Prime Time Sports yesterday, claiming the Jays may just be the most undervalued property in pro sports. The full package plus the gigantic latent fan base makes them a twoonie explosion waiting to happen.

Great Moments in Awesomeness

Holy shit, yesterday was a ridiculous day to be awesome (unless your name is Felix, but I'm sure he's used to that by now.)

Big congratulations to Ichiro for ongoing greatness, Rocco for persevering awesomeness, and Jose Bautista for unlikely awesomeness. You made a believer out of the most cynical of critics.

50 home runs is an awesome feat. 50 home runs and (assuredly) 100 walks is great, great feat. 50 home runs with 100 walks when only 2 of them are intentional? Very, very interesting.

Daylife like a thief in the night.

Screw your Holiday

Not working today? Screw you. Here are — in honor of all of us forced to toil on High Holy Simcoe Day — some exciting outfield tips from three bad defensive outfielders and patron saint Rocco Baldelli. It's old but deliciousness lasts forever.

For what it is worth:

• Matt Kemp: -17 DRS +/- this year, -9 UZR/150 for his career in center field.
  
• Andre Ethier: -10 DRS +/- this year, -12 UZR/150 for his career in right field.
  
• Jason Bay: -1 DRS +/- this year, -8 UZR/150 for his career in left field.
  
• Rocco Baldelli: +4 hearts filled this year, +30 swoons/150 for his career.

Enjoy your day off, ingrates.

Video courtesy of Seamus Baseball

Now. Now is the Time.

The search for the ultimate fifth outfield drags on. And on. No matter how irrelevant The Player, somehow his name becomes attached to the Jays. Fears of a lefty dominant bench and field run rampant, so Anthopoulos and friends drag up any old name.

One name, the name of a right-hand hitting outfielder is still out there. A man that crushes lefties, hits for power and can play all three outfield spots. A man named Rocco.

What is there to lose? The more at bats he steals from Jose Bautista the better we'll sleep. Of all the unfriendly acts perpetrated against the fans of this fine baseball team this year, one good deed might go a long way.

Well, it isn't really a good deed in most eyes. But my eyes would sure appreciate it. Think of the exposure! You really can't lose.

Think of it this way: Rocco is, at his worst, half as shitty as Kevin Gregg. And three times better than Joey Gathright, Jeremy Reed, Jose Bautista, and Endy Chavez combined. You can't lose!

So do it Alex, do it for the children (mine.) Do it for the potential children/future fans (more of my offspring again). Do it because humility doesn't grow on trees and style isn't a function of tree trunk-legged future studs. Do it because it might make somebody happy. There won't be too much of that in your neck of the woods Alex, a little joy is a good thing.

In Other Fetishized Bit Player News

Rocco returned to Tampa and hit a towering home run (hooray for video!) on the very first pitch he saw in his second ever start as a visitor. The 3 dozen Tampa fans and 20000 gathered Red Sox horde gave Rocco a nice standing ovation, something I'm sure he appreciated. Quietly (as quietly as a Red Sock can do anything, so about as loud as your kid sister after 4 Pomtinis) Rocco is coaxing his OPS back up over .800, with 7 home runs in 138 PAs.

Basically, Rocco offers a Rocco-sized contribution. Most of his rates are right on his career numbers though his home run per fly ball is still a little high. Rocco in Boston is working out almost exactly to plan with two unfortunate trips to the DL thrown in for good measure. Playing for the Red Sox put a slight damper on my all-consuming Rocco love but, considering the way things are looking around here ahead of this long weekend, this seemed like as good a time as any to resurrect the Rocco love train.

Yup, long weekend. Do something fun. Watch the Jays and appreciate whatever you can find to appreciated. Grab your damn glove and heave a ball at your best friend's head with Jerry & Alan on the radio. Read Jon Hale's continuing work with Hit F/x at The Hardball Times. Read Jimjam and Manny's ongoing adventures at the Dugout. Just enjoy baseball. This season is surely trying our last nerve, but we'll miss it like crazy when it's gone.

Photo by AP via Daylife with an assist to the Providence Journal

A Moment in Time

I know it took place about 1000 years ago in blogging/internet time, but I witnessed something special on Friday night during the Jays/Red Sox game (which I was liveblogging.) Love and love collided when Brandon League came in to pitch the 7th inning with the outcome of the game hardly in doubt. It didn't matter though, as the first batter he faced was none other than Rocco Baldelli. ZOMG!

I was very conflicted; what should I hope to happen? The game was pretty much over given the Sox bullpen dominance and Rocco was having a tough time at the plate. A meaningless insurance home run wouldn't hurt anybody, right? I think the best scenario would be the the one laid out by Ian the Blue Jay Hunter, who said (allow me to embellish) that Rocco should go down and get a tough League fastball, ripping it down the third base line for Scott Rolen to make an incredible diving play! This website would have spontaneously combusted and ceased to be. It didn't really play out that way, because Brandon League was AMAZING on Friday night. To the graph paper!


Your eyes do not deceive you. Brandon League threw only 1 fastball to Rocco, right down the middle. The other four pitches were his off speed pitch, whatever you believe it to be. Sinker? Slider? Curve? Change? The pitch f/x algorithm sure can't figure it out. Neither could Rocco, who swung at two nice whatevertheyares just below the strike zone after League threw one that even the ump couldn't make sense of so he called it a ball. How about we look at League's velocity versus horizontal movement for the whole inning, which included a two pitch ground out and a strike out of JD Drew?


I'm not very smart, so I don't know what to label the breaking pitch. Is it a changeup? Sort of, it moves laterally at a speed similar to Halladay's change, though the vertical movement is all different. Sometimes Pitch f/x thinks it's a cutter, sure whatever, though I don't think Brandon League throws with his left hand half the time. Is is the very same pitch he heaves normally, just at 80% effort? Brandon League is a pretty eXXXtreme dude, I don't think he does anything at 80% effort. TO THE MAX!

It could be anything, but whatever it was against the Red Sox on Friday, it worked. It was highly effective because it was thrown around the strikezone! Will wonders ever cease?

You may suggest this is an asinine waste of time, getting excited over an 11 pitch sample. You'd be correct, but I still wouldn't care. Rocco went down against a better man on this day, one I hope we'll see again soon.

The 2009 Mancrush Allstars

Off-day following an interleague sweep? What better time to distract myself from the Jays onfield struggles with my annual team of mancrushes and guilty pleasures. Take a look at last year's team to learn who lost that loving feeling, or if you'd prefer a macroscopic look at my ambiguous sexuality. I use my own arbitrary selection process when choosing the Mancrush Allstars, their ability to "move the needle" is pretty important. As always: were this team ever to take the field it would unequivocally go 162-0. 162 and OH people.

Catcher: Russell Martin. Though he's struggling this year, Russ Martin stays towards the top half of the middle of my heart. The silent, floating J is a nice if slightly bizarre tribute to his mother. Keeps it real in Montreal, regularly steals bases which--much to my delight--flies freely in the face of conventional wisdom. Bonus points for making 8 starts at third base last year.

First Base: Last year Albert Pujols took first base by default. While he's not a traditional mancrush candidate, his overwhelming brilliance destroys Lyle Overbay's vanilla persona, sadly hidden rifle arm, and recent proclivity for rockets to right center field.

Second Base: Aaron Hill. Let there be no doubt. One of only three players to appear in each and every iteration of the Mancrush Allstars, Hill's hot start might not get him on the real All Star team. Here at the Dude Ranch, we've always got love. His defense? Awesome. His line drives? Plentiful. Tater Tots? Endless. Aaron Hill will justify your love over and again.

Shortstop: Hmmm, the toughest choice on the diamond. I can't get behind Scutaro or Johnny Mac, Khalil Green is out with a frontal lobe, JJ Hardy can't hit and The Riot's a ginger. Despite my defensive leanings, I'm going to have to go with Hanley Ramirez. He's insane. Three straight seasons with wOBA's approaching .400? Shut the fuck up. I shudder to think what the Red Sox lineup would look like with him involved. He gets bonus points because of repeated "let's make Hanley a centerfielder" threats. That isn't a transition many people can make: Hanley could.

Third Base: Scott Rolen. The kids call this one a no-brainer. Go here; watch and appreciate. His barehanded grab and laserbeam to first Sunday versus the Marlins was the catalyst for my firing up the mancrush ship. P.S. Could someone tell me who leads ALL OF BASEBALL in line drive percentage? Whether or not you expect it to fall back to his career level, that's a recipe for good times.


Left Field: With Manny on the shelf with debilitating mental anguish, I'm at a loss as to who can fill the left field slot for the Mancrush Allstars. Well shit, I'll just go ahead and insert myself. Anyone to ever visit this site before knows I'm certainly my own biggest fan. And shit, I hit TWO home runs in hipster softball yesterday. TWO! Without a fence. I've got the pins to prove it!

Center Field: Rocco fucking Baldelli. There was ever a question? His comeback from The Itis is the stuff of legend. He's even starting to play well! The diving catch he made against the Yankees last week put me over the moon and Rocco in paroxysms of paralysis.

Right Field: Ichiro. Lest I be thrown off the Internet forever.

Starting Pitcher: Roy Halladay. Shocking, I know. If anything, he's actually improved over the last few years. The consummate pro, the pitcher's pitcher. The tireless philanthropist (with a small p.) The dogged workhorse. The awesomest awesomer to ever awesome. The Blue Jay (when he re-ups and retires a Canadian citizen.)

Closer: Mariano Rivera. Consider this a legacy vote. Just as Mo's worn down the umpire's resolve and ability to discern where the inside black begins and ends, Rivera's unending excellence has dissolved my ability to hate him solely because he's a Yankee. The grim, alien features. The comical association with Metallica. Congratulations Mariano, you've won me over.

Assorted Staff: The anthem will be performed once again by Zooey Deschanel while the Suicide Girls will lead us all through Ok! Blue Jays! The Hold Steady will play Take Me Out to the Ballgame and a team of snipers will scan the building in search of wave-starters. Oh, and the manager:


Heart not head.

And Then We All Bought Yachts

I don't have much to offer beyond directing you to Jordan Bastian's excellent piece on the defensive wizardry of the Manmountain yesterday. A brief sampling of the fine yeoman's work:

The fans inside the stadium, after being hushed in awe for a few seconds, began cheering loudly and the crowd moved to its feet. Rolen, the old-school player that he is, stood stone-faced and moved back into position for the next batter. He wasn't about to let the reaction inside the Dome break his concentration.

According to the ever-impressive Yankees Replacement Level blog, Rolen's already saved four runs with his glove this year; equal to the 17 run pace (based on 162 games) set by Evan "Universal Slurpjob" Longoria. The RLYWeblog's list features fountain-of-youth Scutaro firmly at the top and silk glove winner Lyle Overbay right alongside Rolen with 17 runs saved over a 162 season. It was my slightly held belief that the Jays defense was slipping slightly this season, but the numbers don't support it. As a unit they rank 7th in UZR and third in defensive efficiency. That the Jays even rank that high in UZR is slightly shocking considering how much the system hates Vernon Wells, though it gives his arm positive marks thus far. Either way, the defense will continue to support the burgeoning pitching staff in delightful ways.

I can't give any shout outs to Scott Rolen without a nod to his apparent nemesis Jeff Blair for his fine job subbing for Bob McCowan on Prime Time Sports yesterday.

On the Sox

They kinda suck. Well they're not playing great baseball. Mostly because of Rocco's struggles. Oh how he's struggled. Some awful numbers including 5.4% walk rate, 37.1% K rate (!!!!) for a BB/K rate of 0.15. Ugh. It adds up to an unsightly .529 OPS. Poor Rocco. You'll come around next week sir. Offensively Jason Bay has carried the Yookless Sox. Defensively he's worse than Manny. Dustin Pedroia is playing well but frankly, he can fuck right off. I'm going to say what every Jays fan knows: Aaron Hill + Green Monster = 50 doubles a year. Aaron Hill's quick swing is BUILT for that ballpark, unfortunately for him and his agent he only plays there as a visitor. Get your necktie Dustin, I'm sure they'll make them in size 6x.

In the 25th round...

Lloyd the Barber selects ROCCO FUCKING BALDELLI.

In other, more surprising news: Brett Cecil won't break camp with the Jays. Brad Mills is still in the running along with Matt Clement and Casey Janssen. As per The Last Bastian of Truth:

Matt Clement is behind Casey Janssen, Scott Richmond and Mills for one of the starting jobs, according to Ricciardi. He added that Janssen doesn't necessarily need to open in the Minors because he is slightly behind the rest of the pitchers. He's very much in the running for a spot.

Interesting. Cecil's ceiling is higher thanks to his better stuff and abundant youth. Mills is much cheaper than Clement, something we shouldn't discount.

Photo stealing fool

Instant Access

More good stuff from the Canadian ambassador to Twitteronia, Jeff Blair. His latest blog post questions how long reporters will have access to clubhouses before and after games for unfiltered contact with athletes. He notes that a few scoops can be had in the locker room, it's mostly cat and mouse:

Everybody totes a tape recorder now to post-game interviews, and a savvy player knows that if drones on and strings out a few clichés he can see eyes glazing, follow-ups evaporating. No attention is paid to nuance.

Blair adds that the lack of easy quotes leads to better writing and more wit. In other words: blogging.

At the same time, I'm seeing the value of access nearly firsthand. Walkoff Walk's Kris CTC Liakos continues touring Floridian complexes and continues to deliver great stuff. Maybe it just seems crazy to me because I don't have regular Gmail Chats Conversations with beat writers; but having someone with a similar sensibility interviewing players and offering his perspective seems hilarious yet awesomely fresh at the same time. Having him say stuff like "BJ Ryan is like a bull standing on two legs" speaks to me more than most journoporn ever could.

He INTERVIEWED ROCCO, FOR GOD'S SAKE. Among the more expected revelations (Rocco is a nice guy that was doing the NY Times crossword when Kris approached him) was Rocco giving the Blue Jays the one thing I really wish they'd get: credit. Regarding the American League East's status as the best division in baseball (emphasis obviously mine):

Well yeah, last year we had 4 teams that were playoff caliber teams. 4 teams that if the right scenario happened could have been World Series caliber. So you take 4 teams like that and you have them play each other 19 times a year, you beat up on each other. But there's no use complaining about it. I learned that a long time ago in Tampa. We weren't very good and we'd get beat up on by this division. It made it difficult, but that's the reality. Complaining isn't the way to go about it. You just grit your teeth and deal with it.

Sweet, glorious props. Rocco knows, Rocco knows.

I Saved Latin, What the Hell did You Ever Do?

The first Rocco Report of the spring! Rocco's in camp doing (and saying) Rocco-type things. Though he was only ranked as the 20th most important on the Sox roster by the Boston Globe, any team that employs brittle Seminole JD Drew and bitter semi-old guy Mark Kotsay is going to need all the outfield help they can get. Though it seems Rocco is taking it slow, exempting himself from certain conditioning exercises.

Rocco needs all our support, as he's down one key backer these days. I understand where our friend David Chalk is coming from; he's a Ray through and through. Rocco walked away from Tampa, and he left David's love behind. That's okay, he'll always be welcome around here.

Other stuff

• Those covetous bastards at 3:10 to Joba are making eyes at Roy Halladay. So is a guy that willfully writes about the Colorado Rockies. My rage knows no bounds.
  
• Jordan Bastian convinced Cito to rosterbate along with the rest of us. I shouldn't have to suggest that it's waaayy too early in the spring for this. But I guess that means Travis Snider makes the team? Note to Cito: leading off with Johnny Mac is probably worse than using Corey Patterson. Just sayin.
  
• I actually wrote something for Walkoff Walk, my first in weeks. And I included Brett Cecil! Check it out, I make fun of the KLAW!

An Ace Unable to Change

The air quality sure is bad here in my mother's basement. Dusty, probably asbestos. Something is definitely effecting my vision. Breathing, too! If you'll excuse me...

Hat tip to Big League Duk and the Rob Iracane

Rocco's Red Sock

Update: Something about that picture just looks right.

Good on him. If not here under my stalkful eye, where else could he possibly go to keep me happy? He'll still get lots of screentime on Sportsnet without wasting away in some National League hinterland. Rocco's signing is expected to be announced tonight at the Boston Baseball Writers Association Awards; where Rocco will receive the Tony Coligniaro award for, as Mr. Rob Iracane said this morning, being awesome. I think Red Sox Rocco is great fun, though it spells bad things for the Jays.

The Tao nailed it as usual today, noting that the Sox signings (Smoltz!) are just as scary as the Yankees recent acquisitions. My esteemed colleagues at Walkoff Walk bookended their day's with Rocco comments. Kris aka CTC aka the resident Red Sox fan had this to say:

If Rocco is really on the health upswing he has the potential to be the best fourth outfielder in baseball. That's a huge asset to a team that employs awesome, but injury prone Florida State Seminole JD Drew.

You hear that Reed? Your mantle of best fourth outfielder in baseball has been passed to a guy with good reason for his scrap and grit. He also has the good sense to let the chin pubes envelop his entire face when the situation calls for it.

For Rocco to provide the Sox with anything more than pure aesthetic joy, he's going to need to improve some of his slightly scary 2008 numbers. He ended up with a Riosian wOBA of .358, but he struck out a shit-ton (30%!) and managed an amazing 20% home run/fly ball rate. Neither of those numbers are sustainable, but the Ks will come down so long as he doesn't take 5 month breaks from the game.

Generally regarded as one of the Good Guys, he'll get a pass from the Boston media horde until May 1st. If he isn't producing at or near the level of unfortunate Hall of Fame candidate Jim Rice at that time, I predict the scene below to unfold in the bowels of Fenway.

Make it a Ghostrunner Xmas

What do you mean that's not Santa? Red hat, white beard. Same fucking guy right? I enjoyed The Life Aquatic more than 1000 Christmases anyway. Why you may ask? Because Christmas can go get fucked. No matter the circumstance, I'm ready and willing to celebrate the blessed event of time away from work. Paid days off are the real Messiah.

I'm not one to turn down free shit, so in the honor of the season of consumerism, I've thrown together a simple wishlist all my own.

• Yankee Comeuppance. Even though their free spending ways haven't been as bad as I think, my hate has been reborn in surprising and refreshing ways.
  
• The World Baseball Classic to not be a trainwreck. I need more baseball in my life.
  
• To be on the radio. Seriously, somebody put me on the radio. I will keep the "like" count under 50.
  
• Hell, while I'm getting all pie in the sky; season tickets. That would be awesome, hidden wealthy benefactors.
  
• A walkoff walk every night for the entire season. That shrimp should look like Usain Bolt by next October.

One last thing:

Have a good few days off people. Make it happen Zissou!

Throwaway Quotes

There is a real sense of negativity surrounding the Jays chances in 2009. I wonder what all this negativity stems from? It couldn't be the loss of AJ Burnett, a signing bemoaned by fans of both the team that lost him AND the team that signed him? How does that work anyway? How can Jays fans be pissed he's leaving and Yankees fans be pissed he's on his way? Something is amiss, there must be outside forces contriving to keep Blue Jays fans down...

Forces like the Shi Davidi, using a rousing metaphor to squash the Jays hopes and dreams in December.

So the Blue Jays will now try to slay the AL East beasts with a plastic knife, hoping their kids progress quickly, several players overachieve and they hit on some inexpensive, roll-of-the-dice signings.

No mention of their league-best defense, or the health/full-time status of their most important bats? Surprising. The plastic knife bit is effective though. It really evinces the desperation and futility of 2009.

What about Herr Blair, the finest Blue Jays voice? Though he's moved on from the Blue Jays beat, he still brings the goods and is realistic without being pessimistic. His piece in Monday's Globe advocating the Yankees big spending in the most rational, thoughtful way imaginable. But he threw in a dig at the end that makes me wonder why the song and dance goes all year long.

But Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi had the Yankees picked out as Burnett's destination as far back as the summer.

Really? It's unrealistic to assume JP thought for a second that A.J. was going to stay with the Jays, but when he's nailing the destination in the summer, why can't somebody print that in the summer? The whole song-and-dance of the last two months now seems officially retarded, and the biggest waste of time and column inches in history.

Speaking of wasted column inches, Cathal Kelly's now my favorite Jays beat guy; his modern voice is rare in the MSM. His column about the AJ & Halladay's relationship that never really was generated a lot of feedback, as these columns always do. The "he was trouble in the clubhouse/nobody liked him column" always come out after the fact. I ask why? Why are we not hearing about this until these guys leave? Before Frank Thomas was cut, we heard he was a good teammate, the guys respected his record blah blah blah. As soon as he's cut, Wilner and some others immediately start in on the "nobody's going to miss him around here!" routine. If that is the case, why don't we hear about it in the moment?

I understand reporters aren't too interested in biting the hand that feeds, and athletes can be an unpleasant and unreasonable lot (ie. A.J.'s sudden bloodfued with the Fan and Wilner.) But if they see it, and everybody knows it, why don't we get to hear it? It's true what they say about Griffin; he might not know what he's talking about, but at least he's there to face those he wrongly slams.

The Most Cynical Thing I'll Ever Write and Other Stuff

• Holy Shit!!! Rocco's been misdiagnosed! He's cured! Just in time for free agency! I hate myself. Hopefully it's true, and Rocco can find himself a full time job. Or he can come here and be the fourth outfielder. At which point I will simply quit my job. Update: A much more in-depth and not entirely capitalized report on Rocco here. via Drunk Jays Fans and my borderline psychotic Google Alert.
  
• Longtime supporter, prolific blogger and all-around stud NV aka eyebeleaf of Sports and The City has joined the Score Sports Federation. This man does a yeoman's work covering all the major sports in Toronto, while remaining active all over the blogosphere. Congrats sir, you deserve it.
  
• Just in time for its violent shark-jumping, I created a Facebook page for Ghostrunner on First. Become a "fan" and sign up. There will be some Facebook exclusive stuff, as well as discussion among the other degenerates that I befriend and abuse. Click the banner on the side. Tell your mom to as well, god knows she has a facebook page by now. Old people ruin everything.

Friday Rocco Report

It's been weeks since I last checked in with the patron saint of Ghostrunner on First, Rocco Baldelli. Rocco, like every other available free agent, has opted to massage his ballsack rather than sign a contract. The most persistent rumours have Rocco landing in either Philadelphia or Boston. The Red Sox talk is fueled by two very different things: the Sox are kicking the tires and doing their homework on Rocco, and every single Red Sox fan alive has a blog. Earlier this month the Boston Globe reported the Red Sox were doing a great deal of research about his condition to determine if it will improve or worsen over time. Most Red Sox fans are simply in a lather over the prospect of signing a true New England guinea to be their fourth outfielder. Not unlike the Erik Bedard/Jason Bay/Adam Loewen maple-lather that coats this great land of ours each winter.

Speaking of tragic homegrown paisans, Rocco was recently awarded the Tony Conigliaro Award, given to the Major League ballplayer who's resemblance to Tony Conigliaro in every possible way goes past uncanny all the way to creepy. It's a nice honor for Rocco, especially since the Comeback Player of the Year award goes to any washed up player that holds off on sucking for one full year. In a cruel twist of fate, this was the second time in his career he's been nominated as the player who has overcome adversity through the attributes of spirit, determination and courage that were trademarks of the late Major Leaguer.

Bonus Rocco Fun Fact! Last time I provided fun Rocco facts, I noted that his first big league home run came at the expense of one Harry Leroy Halladay. I recently learned that Rocco's first career home run ball is part of the Rays exhibit at the Baseball Hall of Fame! (Follow the link for a photo of the ball in the Rays HoF locker) That is pretty fucking cool. No mention of Halladay, maybe one day he'll get a bust instead.

Photo borrowed and gently used from Suzy Q's flickrstream

Freedom Isn't Free

If you're ever unsure of the working definition of "jingoism", I encourage you to do a Google Image search of Freedom Isn't Free. Anyway, enough digression.

Real non-news! Rocco Baldelli is one of 50-odd players to file for free agency mere hours after the completion of the World Series. Hooray! He's on the open market!

Hardly.

Though the Rays declined the 2009 option on Rocco's deal, both the team and the Rocc are eager to sign a new deal. Rocco's situation is unlike most free agents because of his questionable health status, as the Rays' MLB.com guy points out:

Despite Baldelli's ability to play well when he is in the lineup, the fact he must still deal with the effects of his malady makes his a unique situation. The Rays, and other teams who might be considering making a bid at Baldelli, must decide how much value they can give to a player they can't count on to play every day.

Both the team and Rocco himself are saying All the Right Things, with Rocco acknowledging the team made a logical business decision (to decline his option) while still treating him with dignity and supporting him throughout his comeback.

Rays GM Andrew Friedman has admitted publicly to a strong personal relationship with Rocco, something that surely won't cloud his brain when he seeks a hometown discount. There has been some talk of offering Rocco a minor-league deal, giving the chance to win a job and a heavily incentive-based contract. As Adam Loewen showed the good people of Baltimore, sometimes players hear whispers. The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo already suggested Rocco as an ideal fourth outfielder for the Red Sox, another type of homecoming for Rocco. The kind that makes skin crawl in both Toronto and St Pete.

I'm on the record (over and over) stating that Rocco the Blue Jay makes sense to more than just my latent homosexuality. If the Jays don't pick up a DH-styled slugger (Hank Blalock? Billy Butler? Please let it be Billy Butler), meaning Snider and Lind are to break camp splitting time between LF and DH, Rocco would be an IDEAL fourth outfielder. Thanks in no small part to Overmanagin Joe Maddon, Rocco's role this season wasn't true platoon but he was certainly more involved than Mencherson late in the season.

Despite Tinkerin' Joe Maddon consistently defensively replacing him late in games, Rocco's an outstanding defensive outfielder with a strong arm that could serve as something of a (gasp) Reed Johnson-type in the Jays outfield. He could mentor both conscientious defensive objector Adam Lind and inexperienced route-taker and noted burlyman Travis Snider. The Dome would keep him from stiffening up in the cold weather of the spring and fall, his reasonably even split stats would allow him to step in against tough lefties and spell Vernon Wells when he gets his inevitable case of the ouchies.

This probably won't happen, for several reasons. Rocco will re-sign in Tampa being the most prominent. The Jays obviously aren't too concerned wit the bench production in their outfield and loading up for 2009 is a very limited possibility. But a guy can dream.

The Shot Heard 'Round My Loins

Congrats to the Phillies and, as I must add by decree in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Matt Stairs.

Oh, and Joe Maddon: When you pinch hit for Rocco AND leave your season up to Eric Hinske in the same inning, predictable things happen.

I'm sure it's the furthest thing from his mind, but Rocco is now a free agent. I will commence greasing the wheels of conjecture today and every day until he signs. OPEN ARMS SIR.

Picture stolen from teh Yahooz

Listen to Your Heart, Joe Maddon

You seem like a smart guy, and I'm sure you employ new fangled baseball stats on a daily basis. Today is one time to ignore all that bunkum.

Right Fielder	WPA	Team Record in Playoff Starts
Gabe Gross	-0.44	3-3
Ben Zobrist	-0.02	0-3
Rocco Baldelli	-0.04	4-1

Just do it Joe, you know it feels right. Your team has its back to the wall, facing the brink, is drowning in cliche. You have nothing to lose. You're getting less production out of right field than if you left it empty. Your team's won 3 outta 4 in Rocco's starts, almost in spite of him. But fuck that noise Joe, do what is right. NOTHING TO LOSE!

Except a fairweather fanbase waiting for the other shoe to drop.

It's just that simple Joe. He plays, you win. Everyone wins in the end. Everyone.

Update!!!

Joe Maddon knows what the fuck is up.

This post brought to you by the Murder City Devils and my wholly unsatisfying job.



Fancypants playoff WPA via Fangraphs.